Outdoor Adventures
One of my good friends Jeff Wick, who I met while working at the San Angelo Standard-Times in West Texas, came to visit us here in Denver for a few days this past week. He went on a "Father-Daughter Trip" with his 6 1/2 year old daughter Ella, spending time in San Angelo, New Mexico, and finally up here in the Mile High City. Next trip we hope to hang out with the whole Wick clan, including his wife Chrystal and their soon-to-be 1-year-old Deacon.
On Thursday we went down to where the Denver Broncos play and tried to get out to look at the field the but person at the team shop wouldn't allow it. Bummer! So we went over to a park called Confluence Park, where we spent several hours swimming in the little rapids they had there. Here's Jeff riding down, hoping to not get beaten up by rocks underwater.
The dude above Jeff was riding the rapids ALL DAY long. It definitely wasn't his first time doing it, that's for sure!
After swimming, we needed to dry of our shorts so we walked over to a nearby REI where Ella found a "bouldering" rock. She slipped off her flip-flops and proceeded to climb up to the top, no problem!
Jeff joined shortly thereafter.
After a LONG walk to get to the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver, Ella found one of the many pianos placed along the mall where anyone who wants to come stop and play some tunes.
Friday afternoon brought us up to Boulder, where I work. We stopped off at the PD for a quick tour (where we saw a guy getting arrested in our lobby, right when we walked in!). Then we hit up Pearl Street Mall for a street performer and lunch, and then we hit up Eben G. Fine Park, where the Boulder Creek is rapidly flowing. We found a rock where it was safe to jump in the water, and Jeff took the plunge first.
After successfully landing, Jeff told Ella to put on her life vest, and to jump out as far as she could and hold her legs like a cannonball and he'd catch her after she landed in the water. Not sure if at this point she was fully convinced that this was a good idea.
But after some reassuring words from Jeff and I, she took the leap of faith....
And Jeff was there to quickly pull her out of the water, which by the way felt very very very much like melted snow. VERY COLD!
Afterwards, she was glad she did it!
So at this point, I was like "Okay, Jeff did it, his almost 7 year old daughter did it, now I guess I need to do it!" So with a good luck low five from Ella....
and a thumbs up to the camera...
I landed safely in the freezing water.
We had a great three days, and Ashley and I were sad to see them head back home, but we look forward to the whole Wick family to come back next year! (And anyone else that wants to come visit us between now and then!)
